For the first time all season, NBC scored an increase in overnight ratings for NFL action.
The Week 6 Washington/Cowboys “Sunday Night Football” game drew a 13.6 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, up 8% from Packers/Texans last year (12.6), up 21% from Bears/Vikings in 2011 (11.2), and the network’s first game of the season to have an increase in the metered markets.
The 13.6 is on par with other Sunday night broadcasts this season, matching both Patriots/Falcons in Week 4 and 49ers/Seahawks in Week 2, and edging Bears/Steelers in Week 3 (13.5). The Cowboys’ initial “SNF” appearance this season, a Week 1 clash with the Giants, had a 16.6 overnight.
In other primetime action, Monday’s Colts/Chargers game had an 8.7 overnight on ESPN — down 5% from both Broncos/Chargers last year (9.2), and Dolphins/Jets in 2011 (9.2). The 8.7 is the third-lowest of the season for the NFL on ESPN.
Shifting to the afternoon games, FOX had a pair of increases for its Week 6 doubleheader. The NFL national window, featuring Saints/Patriots in 86% of markets, earned a 17.5 overnight — up 9% from coverage featuring Giants/49ers last year (16.1), but down 8% from coverage featuring Cowboys/Patriots in 2011 (19.1).
The 17.5 is actually the second-lowest of the season for the NFL national window, trailing Week 1 (17.8), Week 2 (17.8), Week 4 (18.5) and Week 5 (18.6). Only the Week 3 national window (14.6) earned a lower overnight.
In the early window, coverage featuring Packers/Ravens in 58% of markets earned an 11.6 overnight — up a tick from coverage featuring Cowboys/Ravens last year (11.5), and down 7% from coverage featuring 49ers/Lions in 2011 (12.4).
The singleheader window on CBS earned a 10.9 overnight, down 5% from last year (11.5), and up 10% from 2011 (9.9).
As usual, overnights were not available for the Thursday night game on NFL Network.
(Week 6 overnights from Sports Business Daily, ESPN)
